View source for New Westminster BC Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church 1986


[[File:220 Carnarvon St New Westminster BC 2.png]]

'''New Westminster, British Columbia, Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church, 1986'''


==Prehistory==

During the 1980s, there was an increase in immigration from [https://www.britannica.com/place/Romania Romania] to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada].  The number of Romanians in the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Vancouver Vancouver] region of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Mainland lower mainland] of [https://www.britannica.com/place/British-Columbia British Columbia] increased sufficiently that the Romanian Orthodox began to find one another as they worshipped in other parishes, and they began to desire to develop a specifically [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Romania parish Romanian Orthodox Christian] parish.

==Establishing the community, 1986==

The Romanian Orthodox Parish of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Trinity  Holy Trinity] was first organised in Vancouver, British Columbia, [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada] in 1986.

'''First location for worship, 1988'''

From 1988-1990, the community leased the upper part of the parish hall of [[Vancouver BC Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor 1924 |Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor]] in Vancouver.  Subsequently, other sites were found in Vancouver, in which the community steadily developed.

From 1991, the [https://books.google.ca/books?id=x8NWAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA66&lpg=PA66&dq=nicolae+lapuste&source=bl&ots=lMcsmFZ0i7&sig=CbuMUnbNljpxwF0n5QDJ-RRz4Dg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9qtDUiPbXAhWo8YMKHQMfCGw4ChDoAQgoMAE#v=onepage&q=nicolae%20lapuste&f=false Priest Nicolae Lapuste] has been the pastor of this parish.  

==New premises, 2006==

In due course, in 2006, it became possible to purchase the present building in [https://www.britannica.com/place/New-Westminster New Westminster].  It had previously belonged to the Palestinian-Syrian mission of Mar Elias, of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada  Archdiocese of Canada] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America] (OCA), but the mission had eventually closed.  Then, it seemed that the building would be demolished.  However, it was rescued, renovated and renewed by this parish.  The Fraser River is nearby this Temple, which is located at the corner of Carnarvon and Merivale Streets. 

Not long afterwards, the parishioners worked diligently in order to purchase and provide an iconostas with Holy Icons, a Holy Table in the Altar, and also mural and ceiling iconography throughout the Temple.  The Temple soon was rather "like at home" in its interior appearance.    


[[File:HTROP Hram 2013 (65).jpg]]  [[File:HTROP Hram 2013 (10).jpg]] '''Exterior, interior'''

[[File:Holy Trinity Romanian New Westminster S.jpg]] '''Entrance'''

[[File:Cv-pgL0VYAEKI8o.jpg]]  '''Interior ceiling iconography'''

[[File:Holy Trinity Church congregation.png]]  '''Parish congregation'''

[[File:Holy Trinity Church NWBC Great Entrance.png]]  '''Great Entrance at the Divine Liturgy'''

[[File:Holy Trinity Church NWBC interior.png]]  '''The Nave, facing the Altar'''

[[File:Holy Trinity Church NWBC interior.png]]  '''The Nave, facing the entrance'''

[[File:HOly Trinity Chrch NWBC Holy Table.png]]  '''The Holy Table in the Altar'''

[[File:Holy Trinity Church NWBC Holy Water dispenser.png]]  '''Holy Water dispenser'''




On 9 March, 2014, Father Nicolae Lapuste participated with many other clergy of Greater Vancouver in the service of the [https://www.archdiocese.ca/articles/sunday-orthodoxy-vespers-vancouver Triumph of Orthodoxy] at [[Vancouver BC Saints Nicholas and Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Church 1978 |Saints Nicholas and Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Church]].  

'''Extension construction, 2017'''

By 2017, the community was ready to propose the construction of an extension to the hall which would continue the hall farther along Merivale Street. 


[[File:Holy Trinity Church NWBC parish hall.png]]  '''Parish hall''

==Sunday of Orthodoxy at Holy Trinity Church, March, 2019==

In the evening of the First Sunday of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Great_Lent Great Lent] (the "[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sunday_of_Orthodoxy Sunday of Orthodoxy]", or the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icon_of_the_Triumph_of_Orthodoxy Triumph of Orthodoxy]"), 19 March, 2019, the parishioners of Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tl7q0rCAMw hosted the pan-Orthodox gathering of clergy and Faithful] of Metropolitan Vancouver at [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] in order to commemorate the end of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iconoclasm Iconoclasm] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Empire Eastern Roman Empire], and restoration of Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography Icons] to the Church in 843.  


[[File:HTCNWBC Sunday of Orthodoxy 19 March 2019 2.png]]  '''Vespers of Orthodoxy, Vancouver clergy, 2019'''


[[File:Holy Trinity Church New Westminster 2.png]]

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide pandemic.  Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.  

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Preparations for the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord, 2022==

In the usual fashion for the parish, there were many events in November and December which were part of the preparation for the celebration of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity of Christ] on 25 December, 2022.  These included a week-end on 26-27 November to recall the events of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Union Great Union] of 1918 in Romanian history, and the marking of this union on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Union_Day Romanian National Day of 1 December].  This was a very important event in modern Romanian history, after which Romania included territories which resemble the modern country.  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catechesis Catechesis] was offered regularly, and the Mystery of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Repentance Repentance] ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Confession Confession]) was also regularly available.  

On 6 December, 2022, the Mystery of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Unction Holy Anointing] was offered to all the Faithful round about at the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Saints_Nicholas_and_Dimitrios_Greek_Orthodox_Church_1978 Church of Saint Nicholas], on the Feast-day of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nicholas_of_Myra Saint Nicholas].  

On Sunday, 11 December, 2022, after the Divine Liturgy, the parish choir offered a programme of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Christmas_Carols  Christmas Carols].  The singing of carols was repeated in the evening of 18 December.

==Parish particular information==

This parish belongs to the [https://roeacw.ca/  Western Deanery] of the [https://www.roea.org/romanianorthodoxdeaneryofcanada.html Canadian Vicariate] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Episcopate_of_America_(OCA) Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America], which is a diocese of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America].  The Vicar-Bishop is [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andrei_(Hoarste) Bishop Andrei Hoarste].  The dean is the [http://www.roea.org/listing.html Archpriest Nicolae Lapuste].  The bishop is [[Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)]]. 

The liturgical language is principally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_language Romanian], with some English used.

This parish follows the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecost Pentecost].

In 2022, the rector of the parish is the [https://oca.org/clergy/name/l Archpriest Nicolae Lapuste].



Address :

[https://sfanta--treime-org.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=ro&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Bisericii Ortodoxa Romana Sfanta Treime/Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church]

220, Carnarvon Street

New Westminster, British Columbia

V3L 1B8

Telephone :	604-982-0677

Web-site : [https://sfanta-treime.org/ in Romanian] ; [https://sfanta--treime-org.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=ro&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc in English]  

[https://www.facebook.com/Holy-Trinity-Romanian-Orthodox-Church-New-Westminster-BC-1402911426638709/ Facebook]

E-mail : prnicolae@gmail.com 


Directions : 

From downtown [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver Vancouver] to downtown [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Westminster New Westminster] is 20 km (12 mi).  Between them is the city of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnaby Burnaby], and there is continuous habitation throughout.  

By bus or SkyTrain :

Consult Vancouver [https://www.translink.ca TransLink].

The SkyTrain stop is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_station_(SkyTrain) Columbia Station].  From the station and Fourth Street, walk along Clarkson Street for 2 blocks until Merivale Street, and turn left for 1 block.  The Temple is on the right.

The Temple is at the corner of Carnarvon Street and Merivale Street.

By car :

From the South (USA border and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_International_Airport Vancouver International Airport]) :

Take [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Highway_99 Highway #99] North.  Take exit 16 to merge onto [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Highway_91 Highway #91] north.  Turn right on Marine Way.  Continue on Stewardson Way to Columbia Street.  Follow to 4th Street.  The Temple is at the corner of Carnarvon Street and Merivale Street.

From the North and downtown hotels :

Take [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia_Highway_1 Highway #1] east to Exit 40A towards New Westminster.  Drive on Columbia Street for 3 km (2.2 mi) and turn right at 4th Street.  Turn right on Carnarvon Street.  The Temple is at the corner of Carnarvon Street and Merivale Street.

From the West (Highway #101) :

Take Highway #1 east to Exit 40A towards New Westminster.  Drive on Columbia Street for 3 km (2.2 mi) and turn right at 4th Street.  Turn right on Carnarvon Street.  The Temple is at the corner of Carnarvon Street and Merivale Street. 


[[File:Holy Trinity New Westminster parish sign 1.png]]  '''Parish sign'''


[[File:DSC 2116 HTNW2014.jpg]] '''Parishioners'''


[https://www.oca.org/clergy/Nicolae-Lapuste/Archpriest Nicolae Lapuste]

210, East Saint James Road

North Vancouver, British Columbia

V7N 1L2

Telephone : (604) 982-0677

E-mail: prnicolae@gmail.com

==References==

[https://www.roea.org/parishes ROEA listing]


'''Additional information :'''

[https://books.google.ca/books?id=x8NWAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA104&lpg=PA104&dq=Fr+Gratian+Radu+Dysart+SK&source=bl&ots=lNbxqGX_l4&sig=ACfU3U2pCnQx64voYfbphUCdrEyLtTuYoQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiqptLB5s7tAhXmguAKHZgQDrcQ6AEwAnoECAcQAg#v=onepage&q=Fr%20Gratian%20Radu%20Dysart%20SK&f=false Bugea, Eleanor, “Romanians in Canada” (Michigan : Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, 2009)]. ISBN : 978-1-929200-14-6. 

[https://sfanta--treime-org.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=ro&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Parish web-site]

[https://www.roea.org/parishes?type=details&id=37 Canadian vicariate listing] 

[https://www.roea.org/ The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America web-site]    

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_in_America_Romanian_Episcopate Orthodox Church in America Romanian Episcopate]
 
[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Episcopate_of_America_(OCA) Orthodoxwiki article about the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (OCA)] 

[https://www.roea.org/history Video : History of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America]   
  
[https://www.oca.org/parishes/oca-ro-vanhtc OCA listing about the Romanian parish]  

[https://www.oca.org/ Orthodox Church in America web-site]   

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America  Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Polycarp_(Moru%C5%9Fca) Bishop Polycarp (Moruşca)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Valerian_(Trifa) Archbishop Valerian (Trifa)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Nathaniel_(Popp) Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)] 

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andrei_(Hoarste) Bishop Andrei (Hoarste)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Theodosius_(Lazor) Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)]    

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Herman_(Swaiko) Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Jonah_(Paffhausen) Metropolitan Jonah (Pauffhausen)] 

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Tikhon_(Mollard) Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Ir%C3%A9n%C3%A9e_(Rochon) Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)]  

[http://orthodox-world.org/en/i/24192/Holy_Trinity_Orthodox_Church_New_Westminster Orthodox World listing]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCE1MyqwM-g Youtube presentation] (in Romanian)

[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/romanians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about "Romanian Canadians"]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_diaspora Wikipedia article about the Romanian diaspora] 

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tl7q0rCAMw Video : Vespers on Sunday of Orthodoxy at Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church, New Westminster, BC] (19 March, 2019)  

[https://ocl.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/PASTORAL-LETTER-2021-Final-Eng_Nathaniel.pdf Nativity Pastoral Letter of Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp), 2021]  

[https://www.roea.org/news_220704_1 Message from Priest Nicolae Lapuste, Dean of Western Canada for Canada Day] (4 July, 2022)   

[https://www.roea.org/files/Pastoral-Letters/Pascha-2022_Pastoral-Letter.pdf Resurrection Pastoral Message by Archbishop Nathanel (Popp)] (15 April, 2022) 

[https://roea.org/files/Solia---The-Herald/2022/SOLIA-Q4-2022-final.pdf “The Solia” (“The Herald”) for October-December, 2022]  

[https://sfanta--treime-org.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=ro&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Programme at Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church in New Westminster leading up to the Feast of Nativity, 2022]  

[https://twitter.com/since33/status/792538991409057792?lang=en Twitter note]






[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:British Columbia & Yukon]] [[Category:ROEA]]  [[Category:ROEAVC]]  [[Category:OCA]]